Two women attending the ceremony to mark the start of Patiko-Nuangawai access road’s rehabilitation work Photo: EU
New roading projects in rural Papua New Guinea will boost market access for farmers.
The European Union is working with the International Labour Organisation on two farm-to-market access roads which will help more than 16,000 villagers.
A road connecting the Pasi and Krisa rural communities in Sandaun Province will serve the rural population of more than 3000.
Improvements to another road will support 13,000 villagers living in South Wosera and North Wosera, of East Sepik.
The roads will also help business people, women and school children, with improved access to towns, health posts, and schools.
The roads rehabilitation and maintenance projects will provide safe, reliable, and climate-resilient transport infrastructure to cocoa, vanilla and fishery-dependent farming communities.
"These roads are important since they help the trade and open business opportunities, market access and also help who provide services such as trucking and public motor vehicle operators for movement of people and goods," said Wesley Weli, Director of National Authorising Officer Support Unit, Department of National Planning and Monitoring.
Likewise, these farm-to-market access roads are also a relief to villagers, particularly women and mothers who carry heavy loads and walk with their children for hours to the main highway to catch a PMV to town to sell their produce and get medical treatment.
"These roads are very important also in terms of enabling socioeconomic indicators, including health, education, and financial services. These roads also help local businesses and movement along the roads. These projects are a win for all fronts, for all people living around roads," said Weli.